| We all remember the joys of highlighting articles | | | | improve reading comprehension? Yes. Try using |
| and college textbooks with our favorite yellow | | | | marginal annotations. |
| marker. It is true that note-taking on the text is | | | | Marginal annotations are simple pencil notes in the |
| superior to note-taking on paper or on a | | | | blank spaces of the text that promote interactive |
| computer. However, is yellow highlighting the best | | | | reading. Reading comprehension research is clear |
| form of note-taking to improve reading | | | | that internal dialogue with the text improves |
| comprehension and retention? In a word: no. | | | | understanding and retention. "Talking to the text" |
| Highlighting text may even be counterproductive. | | | | makes reading comprehensible and memorable. |
| Let's face it. Highlighting takes time away from | | | | Try using the following marginal annotation tips |
| reading. It also interrupts the flow of what should | | | | with your next article or text. Who knows, you |
| be an internal dialogue between reader and author. | | | | might just save a few dollars on yellow |
| If you stopped an important conversation every | | | | highlighters! |
| minute or so with an unconnected activity, you | | | | 1. Write out definitions |
| would certainly decrease your understanding of | | | | 2. List examples |
| that dialogue. No doubt, you would also irritate | | | | 3. Write a question mark for confusing passages |
| your conversational partner! | | | | or sections to review. |
| Also, highlighting can't be erased. Ever highlight | | | | 4. Write comments. Personalize your reading with |
| what you thought was a main idea and find a | | | | criticisms, praises, and insights. |
| paragraph later that you were mistaken? Some | | | | 5. Write out questions? Reader-generated |
| even use white-out to un-do their highlighting | | | | questions significantly increase reading |
| errors! | | | | comprehension. |
| Finally, highlighting limits effective re-reading and | | | | 6. Summarize sections. |
| study review. When reviewing a highlighted text | | | | 7. Write down predictions as to where the author |
| the night before an exam, your eyes are drawn | | | | will go next or what conclusions will be drawn. |
| only to the highlighting. You miss out on the | | | | 8. Draw arrows in the margin to connect related |
| possibility of revising your understanding of the | | | | ideas. |
| text or seeing the authors train of thought from | | | | 9. Number key details that the author provides. |
| another angle. | | | | 10. Write a check mark in the margin when a key |
| Now that I've de-bunked the cherished highlighter, | | | | new term is introduced. |
| is there a better reading and note-taking option to | | | | |